Arrangement on a loom for selecting and drawing off weft yarn to a predetermined length



y 1969 H. SCHAFFER 3,444,900

ARRANGEMENT ON A LOOM FOR SELECTING AND DRAWING OFF WEFT YARN TO APREDETEJRMINED LENGTH Filed June 12, 1967 Sheet of 5 GTH May 20, 1969 H.SCHAFFER ARRANGEMENT ON A LOOM FOR SELECTING A YARN TO A PREDETERMINEDSheet Filed June 12, 1967 H. SCHAFFER May 20, 1969 ARRANGEMENT ON A LOOMFOR SELECTING AND DRAWING OFF WEFT YARN TO A PREDETERMINED LENGTH FiledJune 12, 1967 Sheet y 0, 1969 H. SCHAFFER 3,444,900

ARRANGEMENT ON A LOOM FOR SELECTING AND DRAWING OFF WEFT YARN TO APREDETEFMINED LENGTH Filed June 12, 1967 Sheet 4 of 5 H. SCHAFFERARRANGEMENT ON A LOOM FOR SELECTING AND DRAWING OFF WEFT I Filed June12, 1967 YARN TO A PREDETERMINED LENGTH Sheet United States Patent C)US. Cl. 139122 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An arrangement on aloom for selecting and drawing off weft yarns to a predetermined lengthsuitable for picking into a shed comprising an extractor member fordrawing out yarns, which is moveable along a path with the yarnsextending from a yarn supply via a yarn feeding means to a selvedge of afabric being formed and adapted to be separately displaced by the yarnfeeding means into the path of the extractor member and yarn withdrawingmeans operating to draw a portion of the yarn offered by the yarnfeeding means in a direction opposite to that of the extractor member.The yarn feeding means comprises a plurality of separate yarn feederswhich are selectively moved towards positions located approximately on apath extending between the extractor member and the yarn withdrawingmeans in their outermost extraction positions.

This invention relates to an arrangement on a weaving loom for supplyingyarn or thread pieces of pre-determined length to be individually pickedinto a weaving shed, and more particularly to such an arrangementprovided with an extractor means for drawing-out yarns which travel froma yarn supply over a yarn feeding means and which are adapted to bedisplaced by the feeding means into the path of the extractor means.

In weaving processes, wherein the weft yarn to be picked into the shedis taken directly from a yarn supply arranged externally of the loom, itis known to determine the length of the weft yarn before it isintroduced into the shed. For example, in the case of a knownarrangement, the yarn as it is drawn oif from a yarn supply is drawn outby an extractor device perpendicular to the sley race and the free endof the yarn is retained by a yarn clamping means. For picking the yarnwhich is still connected with the yarn supply into the shed, theclamping means is then released and the point on the yarn defining themeasuredoff length of the yarn is retained by a second clamping means.The weft yarn is then, after travelling round the reversing point on theshuttle, picked into the shed.

If various sorts of yarns, for example, yarns of various colors, are tobe woven as weft material, then before every pick of weft, thecorresponding yarn must be measured to the correct lengths. It isnecessary to provide yarn feeding members which present the desired yarnto the extractor member on every occasion.

Advantageously, this invention provides an arrangement whereby thepre-measun'ng of the yarn always produces the same yarn length,immaterial of what sort of yarn is used. If the pre-deterrnined lengthsof thread or yarn were to vary, depending on the sort of thread or yarnthis would, for example, have a disadvantage of producing an undesirableyarn wastage.

This invention is characterized in that a yarn with drawing means isprovided for the drawing-out of the 3,444,900 Patented May 20, 1969 "iceyarns or threads offered by the yarn feeding means in a directionopposite to that of the traction or drawing movement of an extractormember, and in that the yarn feeding means comprises a plurality ofseparate yarn feeders which, for the purpose of offering a yarn to theextractor member, are adapted to be selectively displaced towardspositions located approximately on the path extending between theextractor member andthe yarn withdrawing means when the extractor memberand the yarn with drawing means are in the outermost extractionposition.

Due to the provision of the yarn withdrawing means, a further advantageis achieved that, with appropriate control or regulation thereof, incombination with a yarn clamping means, a neat yarn cutting action andfeeding of the cut end of the yarn to the picking member becomespossible with the aid of simple transfer means. Due to this simple formof feeding, there is furthermore achieved the advantage that, by varyingthe amount of drawing-out effected by the yarn withdrawing means on agiven loom, an extremely simple adjustment to various fabric widthsbecomes possible. By movements of varying magnitudes towards theexterior of the cut yarn end, it is possible to displace the yarn end tothe rest position of thepicking member (which position never changes) onthe given machine.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference toone exemplary embodiment and to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a perspective and diagrammatic view of the arrangementaccording to the invention for determining or supplying yarn pieces ofpre-determined length and for transferring the lengths to a pickingmember; and

FIGURES 2 through 5 show successive working phases of the arrangement ofthe invention shown in FIGURE 1.

In all the drawings, like reference numerals designate like elements.For the sake of greater clarity in the drawings, the majority ofconventional parts of a weaving loom have been omitted. The relativepositioning of the yarn supplying and transferring arrangement of theinvention on the weaving loom will, however, be quite readily understoodby location of the fabric 70 and the shed 71, 72. The arrangement, withregard to the sley (not shown) along which the picking member (in theform of a shuttle 32) travels, will be best seen in FIGURE 4. In thisfigure, the shuttle 32 is shown in its inoperative or at rest position.In each figure of the drawings the arrange-ment of the invention isviewed relative to the loom in a direction from the rear forwardly.

As illustrated in the drawings, a profile rail or bar 41 extendsparallel to the sley (not shown) of the loom. On the profile rail 41 anextractor or drawing-out member is displaced. The extractor membertravels along an extractive path for the purpose of drawing-out the weftthreads. This drawing-out action or movement provides yarn pieces of apre-determined length. As shown in the drawings, the extractor membercomprises two hooks 43, 44 which are reciprocally driven by a drivingmember (not shown) via a belt 45 that moves back and forth along thesley.

In the present example, there are three different sorts of weft yarns orthreads 23, 24 and 25. These are of a different nature, for example, thethree yarns may be of different colors. The weft yarns 23, 24 and 25travel from supply bobbins (not shown) from the left-hand side of theapparatus. The yarns travel from the bobbins over a braking arrangement(not shown), over the guide rods 73, 74 and through the apertures in theriders 15, 16 and 17, through additional apertures 26, 27 and 28, andfrom the latter through eyelets in the yarn feeders 46, 47 and 48, tothe fabric 70. Each of the riders 15, 16 and 17 is lifted during thedrawing-out of its associated yarn 23, 24

or 25 by the extractor member 43, 44 or, during this procedure, it iscarried by the yarn. As soon as the traction force produced by thedrawing-out ceases, the associated rider again drops downwardly, untilit impinges on a stop 14. The height of each rider 15, 16 or 17 bearingon the stop 14 can be adjusted by the appropriate sleeve 75, 76 or 77. Aprogramme-controlled control device (not shown) actuates the yarnfeeders 46, 47 and 48. Actuation of, for example, the yarn feeder 46displaces it in the downward direction as shown in FIGURE 2. In thisactuated position, the weft yarn 25 offered by the yarn feeder 46 isengaged by the drawing-out member 43, 44. The yarn feeders 46, 47, 48may be actuated by associated electro-magnets (not shown) being drawndownwardly against the tension of springs 78, 79, 80.

Furthermore, an elongated plate 19 also extends in the center of andalong the profile rail 41. The elongated plate 19 is adapted to bereciprocated upwardly and downwardly, parallel to itself, by leverarrangements attached at both its ends. In the drawings, only the leverarrangement 20, provided on the right-hand side of the loom, i.e. on theleft-hand side in the drawings, is shown. Bristles, fur, plush or thelike fibrous material 18 are provided over the elongated plate 19 andare supported on a carrier 29 secured to the frame of the loom. Theelongated, displaceable plate 19 bears or comes into contact with thebristles 18 when in its raised position.

As shown in the drawing the temple 50 is fast with the loom frame andserves to stretch the fabric 70 widthwise. The shed formed by the warpyarn is designated by reference numerals 71, 72. Also fast with the loomframe is a pivotal arm 21 that like other elements of the arrangement isactuated by the loom drive, which carries a scissors member 22, servingas a cutting device, and a yarn separating device 51. In the cutting ofone of the weft yarns 23, 24 or 25, the arm 21 is pivoted, so that thescissors member 22 is, as shown in FIGURE 3, positioned directly at theselvedge. In this case, the yarn separating means 51 ensures that theyarn 25 to be severed is clearly separated from the other yarns 23 and24 which are not to be cut.

A yarn clamping means 12 is mounted fast on the profile rail 41. Asshown in FIGURES 3 and 4, relative to the yarn 25, the rail serves toretain the yarn which has been engaged for the purpose of measuring-ohto the desired lengths. The control of this clamping means is effectedvia the rod 52. When the rod is moved upwardly, the lever 82, which ispivotal about the pivot 81, is pivoted clockwise against the pull of aspring 56.

Furthermore, there is an arrangement or means for transferring the weftyarn to the picking member or shuttle 32 (FIGURE 4). This arrangement ormeans comprises the transfer member formed with the slot 54, an air feedduct 30, by which air is blown out of the nozzle 53, whereby the end 83(shown in broken lines in FIGURE 4) of the weft thread 25 to be pickedis blown through a transfer point or aperture 33 in the shuttle 32.

In order to be entirely certain that the blown yarn end 83 passesthrough the aperture 33, a suction device 36 may also be provided. Forthe introduction of the end 83 of the yarn 25 into the slot 54, theinsertion member 55 is provided. This latter member is designed as arocking lever having a hook at its free end. The spring 57 retained onthe member 10 tends to rotate the pivot or shaft 58 in a direction suchthat the hook of the inserting member 55 moves clockwise and downwardly,so that a yarn engaged by the hook is guided into the slot 54. The pivot58 can be pivoted by means of the linkage 60, 61 and 62. The rockinglever 55 is so positioned that it engages each of the yarns offered byone of the three yarn feeders or feeding devices 46, 47 and 48. It movesin a vertical plane which extends perpendicular to the track (formed byelements 19 and 41) of the drawing-out member 43, 44. The drive of thelinkage 60, 61 and 62 can be effected for example in such man- 4 nerthat the rod 60 is moved upwardly and downwardly by a cam disc.

A yarn withdrawing means is provided by a rocking lever 11 mounted forpivoting about the pivot 84 and which is actuated by the upward anddownward movement of the rod 59. The yarn withdrawing means draws outthe yarns 23, 24, 25, when the yarns are offered from one of the feeders46, 47 or 48, in the direction opposite to the drawing-out direction ofthe drawing-out member 43, 44. The rocking lever 11 is positioned insuch a manner, that it engages with its hook each of the yarns offeredby one of the three yarn feeders, and in particular after such yarn isalready moved by the inserting member 55 toward the slot 54. The rockinglever 11 is pivotal in a vertical plane extending parallel to the track19, 41 of the drawing-out member 43, 44. The control means for therocking lever 11 includes rod 59 as shown in the drawings. The controlmeans is such that the rocking lever 11 carries out a first partialmovement in the anti-clockwise direction, i.e. during its first partialmovement, the hook thereof moves, in the drawing, to the left (seeFIGURE 2). In a second partial movement the hook again moves somewhattowards the right (see FIG- URE 3). It then pivots, as shown in FIGURE4, during a third partial movement, vigorously towards the left, that isin an anticlockwise direction in the drawing, whereupon (see FIGURE 5)it pivots back during a fourth partial movement, by the amount of aportion of the third movement. During its fifth partial movement, thehook again returns into its starting position. As will be understood byone skilled in the art, a movement of this kind can be produced forexample by controlling the rod 59 with the aid of an appropriate camdisc.

Furthermore, in addition to the profile rail 41, and on the forward sideof the rail 41 relative to the loom, there is also a yarn monitoringdevice 13. This device is so arranged that the drawn-out yarn, forexample the yarn 25, takes up a position over the monitoring device 13,as in the working phase illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. The monitoringdevice 13 is so designed that on the one hand it produces a shut-downsignal when no yarn is available over it (in the working phaseillustrated in FIGURE 4), and, on the other hand, it produces a shutdownsignal if, after the yarn pick has been completed, (i.e. after theworking phase according to FIGURE 5), yarn is present over it.

The mode of operation of the yarn monitoring device 13 is such that, dueto action of the cam 85 on the member 86, the small plates 35 areperiodically lowered between the small plates 31. In this way, thepresence and absence of a yarn is indicated, via the device 13, and inthis manner the desired shutdown signals can be produced.

For controlling the lever 82 of the clamping means 12 and the insertingmember 55, there is provided the pivot 61 which is adapted to be pivotedin the cadence of the loom operation. The pivot 61 carries out acomplete operational pivoting movement for every pick of a weft yarnfrom the left to the right in the drawings, i.e. from the right to theleft on the loom. At the commencement of an operational pivotingmovement of this kind and in order to produce the same, the driving rod60 is displaced upwardly. Consequently, the rods 52 and 62 movedownwardly, thus producing a pivoting movement of the book as theinserting member 55 towards the slot 54 and movement of the lever 82 ofthe clamping means 12 in the downward direction. During the furtherupward movement of the driving rod 60, and while the inserting member 55is retained by a stop in the position shown in FIGURE 2, the clampingmeans 12 is pressed into its closed position, as shown in FIGURE 3. Withthis pivoting movement of the pivot 61, there is also obtained apivoting movement of the presser 63. As can be seen from FIGURE 3, thepresser is utilised for actuating the scissors member 22 when the memberis pivoted into its working position adjacent the selvedge of the fabric70. Due to the pivoting of the upper portion of the presser 63, thelever 64 is pivoted against the tension of a compression spring aboutthe pivot 66, so that the scissors member 22 is actuated.

The shuttle 32 serving as a picking member is shown only in FIGURE 4.The position in which the shuttle 32 is shown is an end or inoperativeposition. The shuttle 32 is formed with two apertures 33 and 34. Theseapertures serve as transfer points for the transfer of the yarn to theshuttle 32. When the shuttle is at the side of the loom shown in FIGURE4, the yarn end 83 is blown through the aperture 33. When the shuttle ispicked, the yarn end 83 is retained by the yarn clamping means 37arranged in the aperture 33. This clamping means consists, in thepresent embodiment of the shuttle, of two small plates which are pressedagainst each other. For picking from the other side of the loom, theyarn clamping means 38 is provided in the aperture 34.

The drawing-out member 43, 44 is secured to the driving belt 45. Due tothe driving of the belt, the drawing-out member 43, 44 is displacedalong the profile rail 41. On the side of the loom which is not shown,there is a second drawing-out member for determining the lengths of theweft threads to be picked from the other side. It is advisable to driveboth drawing-out members by means of the same belt 45. In this way, theadvantage is obtained that, for the drawing-out step, practically acomplete working period of the loom is available.

Disposed between the nozzle 53 or the member and the fabric 70, there isalso a yarn brake 40 In operating the arrangement of the invention, oneof three three yarn feeders 46, 47 or 48 is first actuated by aprogramme-control arrangement. As can be seen from FIGURE 2, the yarnfeeder 46 is moved downwardly in the example illustrated. As this takesplace, the yarn 25 (guided through the aperture 28 and the eyelet of theyarn feeder 46) travels downwardly. Due to the upward movement of therod 60 which now commences, the pivot 61 is correspondingly rotated.Consequently, the rods 52 and 62 move downwardly. The pivot 58 isrotated by the movement of the rod 62, so that the inserting member 55engages the weft yarn 25, guides the yarn to the slot 54, and insertsthe yarn therein. Simultaneously the drawingout step for the weft yarn25 commences. This is effected by the drawing-out member 43, 44. Duringthis step, the yarn required is drawn off from a supply bobbin which isnot shown. The yarn 25 is also engaged by the hook of the rocking lever11. The control of the lever 11, as a first partial movement, producesthe pivoting thereof in the counter-clockwise direction. This workingphase is not shown in FIGURE 2. Meanwhile, due to the downward movementof the rod 52, the lever 82 of the yarn clamping means 12 has alsopartially descended. The weft yarn monitoring device 13 has opened, i.e.the small plates 35 are in the lifted position.

In the working phase shown in FIGURE 3, the yarn 25 has already beendrawn out to a considerable extent. Meanwhile, the yarn clamping means12 has completely closed. The rocking lever 55- remains in abutmentagainst a stop in its lower position. The rocking lever 11 of the yarnwithdrawing means is, on the other hand, so controlled that, as a secondpartial movement, it carries out a small rearward pivoting movement,i.e. clockwise in the drawing. Since the yarn 25 is now held fast by theclamping means 12, its section between the clamping means 12 and thefabric 70 becomes somewhat loose. Meanwhile, the lever 21, with thecutting device 22 and the yarn separator 51, has been pivoted in theforward direction as shown in the drawing. The additional upwardmovement of the rod 60 results in a pivoting movement of the plate 63such that (in the pivoting position shown in FIGURE 3 in respect to thelever 21) due to pressure on the lever 64, the scissors member 22 nowcuts the yarn 25 near to the selvedge. The yarn at this instant issomewhat loose between the clamping means 12 and the fabric 70.

During the additional drawing-out step effected by the drawing-outmember 43, 44, the rocking lever 11 is, with the clamping means 12 stillclosed, once again in the course of a third partial movement, vigorouslypivoted back in the counter clockwise direction (as shown in FIGURE 4),so that the severed end 83 of the yarn 25 is drawn towards the left,sliding in the yarn brake 40. Also as shown in FIGURE 4 yarn feeder 46is positioned approximately on a path extending between the extractormember 43 and the hook portion of lever 11 in their outermost extractionpositions.

As soon as the end 83 emerges out of the brake 40, it is blown by theair flowing out of the nozzle 53 against the transfer aperture 33 in theshuttle 32. The yarn brake 40 exerts a relatively weak braking effect onthe threads drawn through it. The purpose of the brake is to avoidtwisting or curling of the yarn during the withdrawal of the yarn endimmediately after cutting by the scissors member 22. The position of theyarn 25 corresponding to this working phase is shown in full lines inFIGURE 4.

Subsequently, the rocking lever 11 moves, in a fourth partial movement,into the position shown in broken lines in FIGURE 4, wherein also theyarn 25 extends as shown in broken lines. It can be seen that, duringthe return movement or fourth partial movement of the rocking lever 11,the yarn end 83 has been blown through the transfer aperture 33 in theshuttle 32. This step is further assisted by the suction device 36 intowhich, as shown in FIGURE 4, the yarn end 83 is sucked. The pivoting ofthe fourth partial movement is smaller in quantity than the pivoting ofthe third partial movement.

During picking of the shuttle 32, which follows, the yarn end 83 isretained by the clamping means 37. At the same time, the driving rod 60again travels downwardly and the shaft 61 begins to pivot in theopposite direction of rotation. Consequently, the clamping means 12opens simultaneously with the propulsion of the shuttle 32 and pickingcommences.

Also at the same time, the elongated plate 19 is raised by the leverarrangement 20 and the corresponding arrangement on the other loom side.Since, at this instant, the drawing-out member 43, 44 has already movedsomewhat towards the left hand side, (as viewed in the drawing), clue tothe lifting of the plate 19, the drawn-out yarn is released by thedrawing-out member 43, 44. The picking of the weft yarn 25 into the shed71, 72 then commences.

The shuttle 32, which is now again travelling through the shed and inwhich the yarn 25 is clamped by the clamping means 37, draws the yarn 25into the shed 71, 72; the hairpin-shaped portion of yarn 25 which hasbeen measured-off lengthwise being drawn after the shuttle. Thisprocedure is shown in FIGURE 5. During this picking procedure, therocking lever 11 is, in the course of a fifth partial movement, pivotedback once more into its starting position.

Due to the raising of the elongated plate 19, the plate contacts thebristles 18 which are arranged above it and secured to the carrier 29.The bristles 18 ensure that, during the picking of the weft yarn 25 intothe shed, the hairpin-shaped portion of the yarn which has been suppliedat the pre-determined length does not twist or form loops.

With regard to the mode of operation of the yarn monitoring means 13, ithas already been stated that this means is in its open position in theworking phase shown in FIG- URE 2. During the drawing-out of the weftyarn 25 by the drawing-out member 43, 44, the yarn 25 takes up aposition over the small plates 31. During the subsequent lowering of thesmall plates 35, the weft yarn 25 prevents plates 35 from being able todescend completely between the small plate 31. The mode of operation ofthe yarn monitoring means 13 is such that under these conditions no stopsignal is produced. Then, as the weft yarn 25 is introduced into theshed during the picking up step shown in FIGURE 5, the small plates 35are again lifted. After the re-descent of the plates 35, following thislifting movement,

the plates 35 descend completely between the fixed small plate 31,provided that the weft yarn 25 is drawn 01f away from the yarnmonitoring means 13. The mode of operation of the monitoring means issuch that the complete descent of the small plates 35 in this workingphase does not produce a stop signal, but that a signal of this kind isproduced if the small plates 35 do not descend.

When picking weft yarn material of a different sort, for example, havinga different degree of elasticity, it is possible that thepre-determination of the length by the drawing-out member 43, 44 might,in accordance with the dilferent characteristics of the weft yarns,produce diiferent lengths. In order to be able to compensate for thesedifferent lengths, the riders 15, 16 and 17 are provided. Each of thevarious weft yarns 23, 24 or 25 travels through one of the eyelets ofthe riders 15, 16 and 17.

As already mentioned, an arrangement (not shown) which brakes the yarns,is disposed between the riders 15, 16 and 1.7 and the yarn supplybobbins, also not shown. During the drawing-out of the yarn by thedrawing-out member 43, 44, the rider of the yarn acted upon by thedrawing-out member is then lifted. As shown in FIGURE 3 in respect tothe yarn 25 the rider 17 is lifted. After the drawing-out step has beencompleted, the rider again descends, until it again bears on the stop14. Due to this descent of the rider, the drawn-out yarn is againshortened by the amount resulting from the lowering of the rider. Theheights of the riders 15, 16 and 17 or of the eyelets thereof may beadjusted as desired by the displaceable sleeve 75, 76 and 77. Thus, theamount by which the given yarn is again withdrawn may be adjusted whendesired and also be adapted to the character of the yarn.

Referring to FIGURE 4, it will be seen that the predetermination ormeasuring-off of the length of the picked weft yarn 25 is effected aboveall by the drawing-out member 43, 44 which draws out the yarn 25 towardsthe right in the drawings. On the other hand, the pre-determination ofthe length is also determined by the drawingout movement of the rockinglever 11 of the yarn withdrawal means (and of the inserting member 55),which is directed towards the left in the drawings. These movements forthe pre-determination of the weft yarn length, which are carried out inopposite directions have the further advantage that the lengths arealways practically uniform, independently of which of the yarn feeders46, 47 or 48 is actuated. This is due to the fact that the eyelets ofthe yarn feeders 46, 47 or 48 are disposed at least approximately on apath extending between the drawing-out member 43, 44 and the hook of thelever 11 of the yarn withdrawing means when these elements are in theoutermost drawing-out position of the arrangement. It is clear that ifthe yarns corresponding to the yarn feeders 46, 47 and 48 would remainextending straight from the feeders 46 to 48 to the fabric 70 during themeasuring-off of the yarn to length, then the length of the yarn 25actuated by the yarn feeder 46 would be greater than the length of theyarn 23 actuated by the yarn feeder 48.

A further advantage of the arrangement of the invention is also to beseen in the fact that the weft yarn to be picked has only a singledeflecting point. This deflecting point is the hook on the lever 11 ofthe yarn withdrawing means which, furthermore, moves back into itsstarting position in the course of its fifth partial movement whichtakes place during the picking of the Weft into the shed. In order tomake conditions as advantageous as possible, it is furthermorerecommended to impart to the apertures or eyelets in the yarn feeders46, 47 and 48 a direction such that they extend as far as possibleparallel to the track of the drawing-out member 43, 44 or to the profilerail 41. In other words, these apertures are advantageously given adirection which is substantially parallel to the general direction ofthe yarn 25 located on the forward side of the arrangement (as shown inthe drawings) relatively to the profile rail 41 between the drawing-outmember 8 and the hook of the withdrawing means. Naturally, instead ofthis arrangement, these apertures can simply be made as large aspossible.

If it is not desirable to provide a carrier 29 for the bristles 18, theadhesion of or the holding effect on the yarn 25 can be achieved by anarrangement in which the yarn is held by a suctional elfect against theupper face of the profile rail 41. In such an embodiment, apertures asshown in FIGURE 4 may be connected with a suction device may be arrangedon the profile rail 41. Such apertures may be arranged along the entirelength of the loop in the yarn 25 formed by the drawing-out member 43,44. Advantageously, however, such suction apertures are provided only atthe locality of that half of the drawn-out loop which extends betweenthe hook 43 and the eyelet 28, i.e. only at the place of that half ofthe loop which is positioned forwardly relatively to the loom. Thesuctional effect at the apertures may be kept weak for theabove-described purpose of achieving the desired adhesion.

What is claimed in:

1. An arrangement on a loom for selecting and drawing oif weft yarns toa predetermined length to be picked individually by a picking memberinto a weaving shed, said arrangement comprising an extractor member fordrawing out yarn, said extractor member being moveable along a path andsaid yarns extending from a yarn supply via a yarn feeding means to aselvedge of a fabric being formed and being adapted to be separatelydisplaced by said yarn feeding means into the path of the extractormember, and a yarn withdrawing means operating to draw a portion of theyarn offered by said yarn feeding means in a direction opposite to thatof the extractor member; the yarn feeding means comprising a pluralityof separate yarn feeders, which when oflFering a yarn to said yarnwithdrawing means are adapted to be selectively moved towards positionslocated at least approximately on a path extending between the extractormember and the yarn withdrawing means in their respective outermostextraction positions.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 in which a yarn clamping means is providedfor clamping the yarn offered by the yarn feeding means locatedapproximately on a path between the extractor member and the yarnwithdrawing means in their outermost positions.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 further comprises a cutting device forcutting said portion of the yarn at the selvedge and control means forcontrolling movement of the yarn withdrawing means, the movement of saidyarn withdrawing means comprising as its first partial movement, adrawing-out movement when the yarn clamping means is opened, and whenthe yarn clamping means is closed and before cutting of the yarn asecond partial movement which is smaller than and which takes place in adirection opposite to the first partial movement as its third partialmovement a further drawing-out movement which, after cutting of the yarnand after closing of the yarn clamping means, is such that the severedyarn end is moved away from the selvedge by a predetermined amount, anda fourth partial movement which is smaller than and which takes place ina direction opposite to that of the third partial movement.

4. The arrangement of claim 3 in which said control means also causessaid yarn withdrawing means to have a fifth partial movement which whenthe yarn clamping means is opened and after commencement of the yarnpicking movement by the picking member, moves said withdrawing meansback to its starting position adjacent to said yarn feeding means.

5. The arrangement of claim 3 further comprising an inserting memberlocated between the selvedge and the yarn withdrawing means for engagingthe severed yarn end and for feeding said yarn end to a transferringmeans which in turn transfers the yarn end to the picking member.

6. The arrangement of claim in which said transferring means includes ablowing nozzle with a blowing action directed towards a transferaperture in the picking member disposed in its rest position.

7. The arrangement of claim 3 further comprises a yarn separating meansoperably associated with said cutting device for guiding the yarn beingpicked to the cutting device.

8. The arrangement of claim 1 in which the yarn feeders each of whichconveys a different yarn are arranged in a row extending parallel andadjacent to the path of the extractor member and are Verticallyadjustable relative to said path.

9. The arrangement of claim 8 in which the yarns are guided througheyelets provided on the yarn feeders, said eyelets being formed byapertures, the longitudinal axis of which extends substantially parallelto the path of the yarn extending between the yarn withdrawing means andextractor member in their outermost positions.

10. The arrangement of claim 1 in which the yarn withdrawing meanscomprises a rocking lever provided at its free end with a hook andpivotable in a vertical plane that extends parallel to the path of theextractor member, said rocking lever being arranged relative to the yarnfeeding means so that upon movement of said lever in a counterclockwisedirection said hook will engage each of the yarns displaced successivelyby the yarn feeders into the path of the extractor member.

11. The arrangement of claim 1 in which the path of the extractor memberextends parallel to the sley of the loom and said extractor member drawsout the yarn from the exterior toward the center of the loom, saidarrangement further including means for releasing the drawnout yarn fromthe extractor member after the drawing-out movement of the extractormember has been completed.

12. The arrangement of claim 11 in which the extractor member comprisestwo books and said means for releas ing the drawn-out yarn from saidextractor member comprises an elongated plate which extends between thehooks and which is adapted to be reciprocated upwardly and downwardlyand a controlled lever mechanism for displacing the plate above theheight of the hooks after drawing out of the yarn and for displacing theplate below the height of the books after picking of said yarn by thepicking member.

13. The arrangement of claim 12 further comprising fibrous materialarranged above the elongated plate so that the plate contacts saidfibrous material when the plate is displaced upwardly by said levermechanism.

14. The arrangement of claim 12 in which the extractor member draws outthe yarn offered by said yarn feeding means to form a hairpin-like loop,said arrangement further comprising suction apertures located besidesaid elongated plate at the place at which the front portion of thedrawn-out loop is located relative to the loom.

15. The arrangement of claim 1 in which an extractor member is providedon each side of the loom and the two extractor members are driven by thesame drive means so that drawing-out of the yarns to be picked in onedirection takes place during the picking of the yarns in the otherdirection, each of said drawing-out operations thereby extendingsubstantially throughout a complete working cycle of the loom.

16. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a second yarnwithdrawing means for each of the yarns fed via said separate yarnfeeders, for withdrawing an adjustable quantity of the yarn offeredafter being drawn out by said extractor member.

17. The arrangement of claim 16 further comprising a yarn braking meansover which each of the yarns is guided from said yarn supply positionedbefore said second withdrawing means, said second withdrawing meanscomprising a rider disposed on each of the yarns, the weight of therider being such that after drawing-out of a yarn is completed by theextractor member, the associated rider will descend to bear on anadjustable stop disposed below it.

18. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising weft yarn monitoringmeans positioned to the side of the path of the extractor member overwhich the drawn-out yarn is positioned in the first working phase ofsaid arrangement and from which the yarn is drawn away in a secondworking phase during picking of the yarn by said picking member, saidmonitoring means producing a stop signal when no yarn is positionedabove it in the first working phase and when yarn is positioned above itin the second working phase.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1936 Pool l39126 9/1959 Walton139l26 FOREIGN PATENTS 8/ 1966 Great Britain.

